Acute pancreatitis associated with steroid therapy.

Abstract

It has been clearly demonstrated that rabbits given high doses of cortisone develop pathologic changes in the pancreatic acini as well as focal fat necrosis and lesions characteristic of focal pancreatitis. 1,2 On the other hand, surprisingly few cases of pancreatitis developing in patients receiving corticotropin (ACTH) or adrenal steroids have been reported. 3-6 The purpose of this paper is to describe 6 patients in whom the clinical and pathological evidence suggested steroid therapy had induced acute pancreatitis. Report of Cases Case 1.— This 42-year-old white man was in good health until March, 1956, when he developed malaise, persistent frontal headache, and daily fever. Extensive bacteriological, serological, and x-ray studies were done. None was revealing. Broad spectrum antibiotics did not alter the fever pattern. A clinical diagnosis of disseminated lupus erythematosis was made, and in April, 40 units of corticotropin and 20 mg. of prednisone per day were begun (Fig.